The Tribune

THE Free National Movement has branded Prime Minister Perry Christie’s decision to hold a cabinet meeting today in North Abaco as a “utter waste of time and money”.

According to the party’s chairman, Darron Cash, this decision by Mr Christie is compelling evidence that the former FNM Government, led by Hubert Ingraham, had left in place a solid foundation upon which the Christie government will be able to build.

“In every respect, North Abaco has been prepared to comfortably accommodate the full infrastructure of the Government of the Bahamas. This is a true testament to the outstanding representation North Abaco received under the FNM. Notwithstanding that reality, the decision by the (Prime Minister) to hold a cabinet meeting in North Abaco should be seen for what it is; a complete and utter waste of time and money. The government’s action is an obscene charade and a naked abuse of power.”

Senator Cash said that this move by Mr Christie

today is nothing more than a “bye-election ploy” designed to pretend as though his administration cares about the people of North Abaco when their actions in office clearly show that they do not.

“North Abaco was not on Perry Christie’s agenda when he was Prime Minister from 2002 to 2007 and there is no reason to believe that the residents of North Abaco are on his list of priorities now. His record in government, and most specifically in Centreville, his own constituency, reveals in stark terms Prime Minister Christie’s habit of talking in grand and glowing terms then delivering very little, if anything at all. There is little doubt that if the PLP wins, the residents of North Abaco will be forgotten immediately after October 15.

“The cost of holding a cabinet meeting in North Abaco is money that can be better spent. In addition to moving all the ministers in an already bloated cabinet and their aides, the cabinet secretary, recording secretaries and other aides must also be transported and accommodated. Moreover, the government must provide close to fifty vehicles for the contingent of ministers and officials. All of this is being done, while average Bahamians continue to be kicked off the 52 weeks jobs programme.

“Even as the PM pushes forward with this wasteful show, the question must be asked, why North Abaco? Why not Freeport, Grand Bahama? The FNM constructed a similarly modern government complex in Freeport, and recently PM Christie saw fit to give GB its own Minister in his government. Yet, despite the pressing needs on Grand Bahama Island, the PM has not seen fit to hold a cabinet meeting there?

“If the charade continues, then top of the cabinet agenda should be the questions of when and how the PLP government intends to complete the major construction projects that they stopped. When will the airport in Marsh Harbour be completed? When will they continue the repairs to the airport in Treasure Cay? This is the airport for which a $2.7 million contract was signed, works and payments in the amount of $1.0 million made and which was cancelled by the Christie government. When? When will the port for North Abaco return to priority status? And when will construction of the new Bridge for Little Abaco get to the top of Mr Christie’s agenda after the project was put on hold? Across the island, when will the road works be completed and what is the timeframe for further road improvements? What assurances will he given to the people of North Abaco and people throughout The Bahamas, that contracts will be available to all Bahamians and not only the ones believed to be PLPs,” he asked.

Mr Cash added that what was further offensive about the “cabinet theatre” are the reports that the Christie government intends to insist that cabinet ministers are chauffeured by government employees from North Abaco.

“Not only is this an enormous distraction for public officials, it is also a brazen act of intimidation and should not be done under any circumstances. The Christie government’s inability to deliver a clear plan for development of North Abaco and the rest of the Bahamas has given way to spectacular displays of waste and abuse of power. North Abaco should send them a clear message and elect Greg Gomez,” Mr Cash said.